After the outbreak of the war in 1860 the Government
decided that special forces would have to be raised to take
over the responsibility for restoring peace. In 1864 the Weld
Ministry proposed its “self reliant” policy, the substance of
which was that New Zealand should dispense with the Imperial
troops for which they were paying an annual capitation of
£40. Reliance would instead be placed on local forces and on
Maori auxiliaries. This policy was gradually accepted by the
Government, though not without serious difficulties with the
Colonial Office. But by 1870 the last British regiment had
left New Zealand.

The Colonial Defence Act of 1862 authorised the formation
of the first Regular Force, a mounted body, not to exceed 500
men, enrolment being voluntary and for a three-year period of
service. Maoris as well as Europeans were eligible, and
officers and non-commissioned officers were appointed by the
Governor. Of divisions formed in Auckland, Napier, and
Wellington, the Auckland Division, under Lieutenant-Colonel
M. G. Nixon, played a significant role during the Waikato
Wars and, later, saw action in the Bay of Plenty. The Napier
Division took part in several skirmishes, but the Wellington
Division was never in action.

Special forces were raised to meet the Maoris in their own
element—the bush. They searched out Maori war parties, acted
as scouts, and protected the Imperial troops' lines of
communications. The first such force of 50 men, raised by
Major H. A. Atkinson, was known as the Taranaki Bush Rangers.
The most famous unit, however, was the Forest Rangers, the
first company of which was formed in August 1863 under Major
W. Jackson. Towards the end of that year a second company was
formed under Major Von Tempsky. The rangers were armed with
breech-loading Calisher and Terry carbines, a five-shot
revolver, and (in Von Tempsky's company) with
bowie-knives—particularly useful for slashing a way through
bush. Rangers were enrolled for three months and were given
high rates of pay. Their guerilla tactics became so effective
that their name was soon feared by the rebels.

The Government also recruited bodies of military settlers
who were not only to put down rebellion but were also to
settle on the frontier areas afterwards. This idea had
already been tried in 1847–48 when four settlements of
British ex-Regulars (the “Fencibles”) were established near
Auckland. Further, the Government, in 1863, recruited men
from the South Island and from Australia to form a special
militia. These were offered a grant of confiscated Maori land
upon the fulfilment of certain obligations. They were to
serve in the field until discharged, take up the land
allotted to them, erect stockades in townships, remain on
their land for three years, and undergo certain military
training. Four Waikato militia regiments were raised (about
2,500 men) and saw service in the Waikato and East Coast
districts. Similar units were formed in Taranaki, Wanganui,
and Hawke's Bay.

By the end of 1867 it became clear that the severest
fighting was over and, accordingly, all these special groups
were disbanded on 22 October 1867. The Colonial Defence Force
ceased on the passing of the Armed Constabulary Act of 1867,
but continuity was preserved because many members of the one
transferred to the other. The new force, under a Commandant
(equivalent to a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Militia), combined
military with police functions. At its strongest there were
nine divisions (including two Maori divisions), each
comprising 60 to 80 men. From 1868 until 1872 the Armed
Constabulary, helped by volunteer regiments, undertook the
pursuit of Te Kooti. The force's other duties included
patrolling and manning redoubts in the Waikato, Taupo, Wairoa
(Hawke's Bay), and Taranaki districts. In between times the
Armed Constabulary engaged in public works. It retained its
dual role until 1883 when it was divided into two
branches—the Police and the Field Force. Approximately 600
men remained in the latter, but, as native districts stayed
tranquil, this number was later reduced. Men withdrawn from
district garrisons were employed in constructing harbour
defences or were transferred to the Police.

How to cite this page: 'Colonial Defence Force, Special Forces, and the Armed Constabulary', from An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, originally published in 1966.Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New ZealandURL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/defence-armed-services-army-new-zealand/page-3 (accessed 20 Nov 2018)